small yArd design help...

[diezmon]

I'm to the point where I have to decide what to do with this last part of my layout.  My mostlyfinalized plan is here:, along with the rest of my progress thus far.

I'm terrible as track planning, and particularly yards..  I basically want something to fill the space, without it being just PACKED with track.  A place to store/sort some cars.. small engine storage and caboose. plus some switching options.

I'm down to three I think I like.. but I'm kind of at a brick wall.  So, I leave them to you guys..  Get out your potato guns and shoot me some ideas 

plan one:


plan two:


and plan three:


I think I'm leaning towards 2 or 3, but 3 has a very short passing siding there..   I don't have a dedicated switching lead, but I think I'm ok with that.  I just can't seem to find the space for it.   That lead going off to the left in the plans will go to a small town with maybe a lumber yard, freight house, etc..

Anyhoo.. these are my first stab at 'em without a ton of studying.  I'd like to see what people think before moving forward.

Thanks guys!

Tim

[Chris333]

I just like the way 2 looks.

[SquirrelHollow]

Is the bottom of each image the edge of the layout? 

[DKS]

Tim--

I like aspects of 1 and 3. I like the sweeping curve of the track that crosses the siding in 1; I like the crossing, sidings and angled yard in 3. I kind of rolled them together in this version, which has a long passing siding and a switching lead. Food for thought.

[diezmon]

Is the bottom of each image the edge of the layout? 

no, the thick black line is the edge.

[SquirrelHollow]

Is the bottom of each image the edge of the layout? 

no, the thick black line is the edge.

That's what I meant.  I should have specified.

dks2855's has a good idea going.  I'll see if I have any better ideas.

[DKS]

Added a few embellishments (refresh the page). It's hard for me to not think about things like this a lot. When I can't build my own layout, I can at least plan, plan, plan! Of course, I could have some inappropiate stuff in the plan depending on the era/locale...

[diezmon]

Added a few embellishments (refresh the page). It's hard for me to not think about things like this a lot. When I can't build my own layout, I can at least plan, plan, plan!

LOL.. no problem, that's exactly why I posed! 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think for a yard of this size that two engine tracks is a bit much. I think one of those would be much better placed into the "ladder" and used for cars.

[Pomperaugrr]

I like David's proposed revision, together with Ed's suggestion of incorporating one of the engine tracks as a yard track.  One track for service should be plenty for that size yard.

Eric

[diezmon]

Ok, here's this morning's change..

I added a switch lead in there, by extending the bench work just a tad  

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't think the lead will work so well as a "lead" but I do think it's the perfect spot for engine storage & light servicing.

[DKS]

I like David's proposed revision, together with Ed's suggestion of incorporating one of the engine tracks as a yard track.  One track for service should be plenty for that size yard.

I completely agree that the two-track engine facility was overdoing it. I think I got carried away with the text captioning and not paying attention to the overall proportions of things...

I don't think the lead will work so well as a "lead" but I do think it's the perfect spot for engine storage & light servicing.

I think the switch lead is the innermost track that wraps around the bend in the benchwork (at least, that's what it is in my version), not the shortie that kicks out to the left from the yard ladder--which I agree is the perfect spot for an engine facility.



Edit: Added an idea to chew on: a road that crosses the very end of the yard over a bridge, which conceals a mirror (blue line) to extend the yard...

[diezmon]

I don't think the lead will work so well as a "lead" but I do think it's the perfect spot for engine storage & light servicing.

I think the switch lead is the innermost track that wraps around the bend in the benchwork (at least, that's what it is in my version), not the shortie that kicks out to the left from the yard ladder--which I agree is the perfect spot for an engine facility.

Edit: Added an idea to chew on: a road that crosses the very end of the yard over a bridge, which conceals a mirror (blue line) to extend the yard...

I like the mirror idea.. that is an open end of the layout.. but maybe I could play around with that a bit.

And yes, the track that wraps around the curve is the lead.

[DKS]

I like the mirror idea.. that is an open end of the layout.. but maybe I could play around with that a bit.

I figured it was open-ended--I pictured it in my mind that way, with the road being sliced off on a long angle and the layout facia rising up to the level of the road surface to hide the back of the mirror. It would provide a more secure area for parked rolling stock, rather than having the tracks end at the very edge of the benchwork and subject to accidental bumps and such...